Game Design and Development BS degree

Program overview

The game design and development major allows students to explore the entertainment technology landscape and related areas, while still pursuing a broad-based university education. The degree is intended specifically for students who aspire to hold careers within the professional games industry or a related field, such as simulation, edutainment, or visualization. This degree also provides students with a core computing education that prepares them for graduate study or employment in a number of computing fields.

Plan of study

With an emphasis on game programming, the major exposes students to a breadth of development and design processes. Students complete a core of required course work and then pursue advanced studies that can be customized to individual interests and career goals. Students can further specialize their major by taking electives in areas such as game design, production, engines and systems, graphics programming and animation, mobile, web, audio, and more. This depth of course work also enables students to build a robust portfolio of games and other interactive projects.

Cooperative education

Cooperative education is full-time, paid work experience that provides students with an opportunity to learn on the job in real-world industry setting—a definite edge when applying for jobs after graduation. Students are required to complete two blocks of co-op, which may start after their second year of study. Although students usually complete co-ops during the summer term, they may also be completed during the academic year.

Please see General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.

† Student may select one of the following math courses: Mathematics of Graphical Simulation II (MATH-186), Calculus A (Math-171), Project-based Calculus (MATH-181), or Calculus I (MATH-181A).

‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3 or 4 credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and the lab portions to fulfill the requirement.

Advanced electives

IGME-340

Multi-platform Media App Development

IGME-420

Level Design

IGME-421

Tabletop Game Design and Development

IGME-430

Rich Media Web Application Development II

IGME-440

Online Virtual Worlds and Simulations

IGME-450

Casual Game Development

IGME-451

Systems Concepts for Games and Media

IGME-460

Data Visualization

IGME-470

Physical Computing and Alternative Interfaces

IGME-480

Current Topics in Interactive Development

IGME-529

Foundations of Interactive Narrative

IGME-540

Foundations of Game Graphics Programming

IGME-550

Foundations of Game Engine Design and Development

IGME-560

Artificial Intelligence for Game Environments

IGME-570

Digital Audio Production

IGME-571

Interactive Game Audio

IGME-580

IGM Production Studio

IGME-581

Innovation and Invention

IGME-582

Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software Development

IGME-583

Legal/Business Aspects of FOSS

IGME-584

Linux Software Development

IGME-585

Project in FOSS Development

IGME-589

Research Studio

IGME-590

Undergraduate Seminar in IGM

IGME-599

Independent Study

Accelerated dual degree option

Accelerated dual degree options are for undergraduate students with outstanding academic records. Upon acceptance, well-qualified undergraduate students can begin graduate study before completing their BS degree, shortening the time it takes to earn both degrees. Students should consult an academic adviser for more information.

Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only

Effective fall 2013, RIT converted its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.

Program overview

The BS in game design and development allows students to explore the entertainment technology landscape, as well as related areas, while pursuing a broad-based university education. The program has its technical roots in computing and information sciences. Simultaneously, students explore the breadth of development processes through involvement in topics such as game design, design process, and animation.

The program focuses on development while meeting the industry need for developers who will be involved in the design process from inception through completion. The degree is for students who aspire to careers within the professional games industry or a related field such as simulation, edutainment, or visualization. It focuses on producing graduates who understand the technical roots of their medium, the possibilities that creative application of software development affords, and the way in which their industry operates. This degree also provides students with a core computing education that prepares them for graduate study in a number of computing fields and for employment in more general computing professions.

Curriculum

Students complete a core of required course work and then pursue advanced studies that can be customized to individual interests and career goals. In addition, all students complete general education requirements in the liberal arts, social sciences, mathematics, and physics. Students can further customize their experience through both general education electives and free electives.

In particular, the program integrates strong programming skills, which are mandatory in the game development field, with game design and collaborative skills essential to success in the games industry, where multifaceted professionals are in high demand to work on game development teams.

Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.

† Students will satify this requirement by taking either a 3 or 4 credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and the lab portions to fulfill the requirement.

Cooperative education

Students are required to complete three quarters of cooperative education. Co-op students have found work in the games industry and related domains, both regionally and nationally, at companies both large and small. Co-op gives students real-world experience, a definite edge when applying for jobs after graduation.

The design of this program had considerable input from leaders in the games industry. Companies want employees who can work in interdisciplinary teams, and they actively recruit our graduates into the games industry.